Sometimes, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I can't stand Michael Kay.

Too bad John Sterling is only on the radio...I'd rather here his calls than Kay's.

So, the Yankees bats finally come through, and in a big way. We've been waiting for a game like this all season long, and it couldn't have come at a better time - with a rookie on the mound - and against one of the better teams in the AL. If they can keep the ball rolling, it will be good momentum against the Red Sox in the series later this week.

---

Chase Wright who? Yeah. He's definitely above Philip Hughes in my book...he has the control, and the nasty strikeout pitches, to be a very effective major league pitcher. Granted, this was the first time that these hitters have seen him, but he did a good job to not get rattled.

Can we dump Pavano if this kid has a few more decent starts?

---

Daisuke Matsuzaka doesn't have spot-on control? What the fuck? No. It can't be. Hell has frozen over. Peter Gammons uterus has shriveled up. There shall be no Dice-K love child.

He had 10 strikeouts against the Blue Jays last night, but still managed to lose to...not Roy Halladay...not AJ Burnett...but Gustavo Chacin. There is no denying that Dice-K has filthy stuff. But he is also a walk machine in spots, since most MLB hitters are more patient than Japanese league hitters (which is why Matsui was so good there and had little problem adapting here).

I'm excited to face him, particularly if we have an Igawa-Matsuzaka face off. I'd rather see Wang, but since he's still DL'ed, that's the next best thing.

---

Who expected Mike Myers to be tied with an ML-leading ERA of 0.00? Is he on steroids or something (no longer a facetious comment in today's baseball, unfortunately)? Seriously though, he has developed into our left-handed setup man. It's amazing what happens when he isn't used as the LOOGY, and is used as a traditional lefty reliever in late innings.

---

It appears Jeff Karstens will get the start for the Yankees Saturday against the Red Sox. He had 3 hits, 5 strikeouts, and a walk over four innings in a rehab start for Class A Tampa. From what I've read, and what Torre has indicated, it looks like they're confident he can jump right back in and get the job done. Clearly, given the depth of the Yankees minor leagues, it says something that Torre is willing to give Karstens the nod.

---

Matsui is back and should be rolling as he makes some Class-A rehab starts this week. He seems to be progressing well, and should be back with the big club next week Monday against the Devil Rays.

---

Derek Jeter had a near webgem last night. His defense this season has you on a rollercoaster ride - it seems like plays he used to make in his sleep are like differential calculus, while the Gold Glove efforts are still as gorgeous as ever. What gives? Did he accidentally grab A-Rod's cup from the water cooler?

---

Igawa spelled backwards is 2winsinarowfortheYanks.

The announcers that Mr. Babe hates are the Fox announcers. He will actually mute the TV and put on the radio. Unfortunately, the radio is a few seconds ahead, which makes for an odd viewing experience, but anything is better than listening to Buck.

Congrats to you Yank fans a win against the Tribe.

I have a similar experience with hockey...the OLN/Versus/NBC announcers are on crack...so I use the local radio to pick up the broadcast feed from our announcers.

Personally, my favorite duo are Joe Morgan and not John Sterling, but the other portly white man with white hair. His name escapes me now but they usually do games together for ESPN. Anyone else still miss Harold Reynolds too?

9 homers for A-Rod in 13 games. This is un-f*cking-believable! I'm so happy for him, he needs this right now. Any with his opt out clause being the talk of the season, his stock is rising even more. Igawa gave 6 good innings, lowering his ERA by only give up 2 runs (I'm still curious to see him pitch).

John Miller is the other guy. Joe Morgan is an exceptional analyst. I always learn some nuance from him.

An example. In a game with runners on first and second, nobody out and the team batting was trailing by three runs, a batter grounded a single to right and the third base coach held the lead runner on third.

Morgan immediately replied that they should have sent the runner as he almost certainly would have scored as the young right fielder came up throwing home. He made the excellent point that the ball was on the ground, the fielder was deep and needed a perfect throw to get him out and although he has a strong and over aggressive arm, he hadn't made a perfect throw in his time in the majors. In fact, the guy gunned it home over the head of the cut-off man and significantly off line.

By sending the runner home and drawing the throw home, you would then have the batter (the tying run) on second with nobody out, which meant that you could conceivably tie the game without a base hit and the other team had Gagne in the bullpen, which meant that this late in the game your opportunities to win were limited.

Sure enough, the trailing team ended up with the bases loaded and scored only two that inning and lost by one.

I was impressed by Morgan.

Yes, Morgan is very knowledgeable and has a great voice. John Miller was the name. Thanks klydon! Yes, those 2 are such a perfect combo.

Overlooked Hughes rebounds against Chiefs

Phil Hughes bounced back from a shaky outing and tossed six dominating innings as visiting Scranton/Wilkes-Barre blanked Syracuse, 4-0, on Wednesday.

Hughes (2-1) surrendered two hits and struck out 10 without a walk after yielding five runs in five innings against Richmond on April 12.

Needing a starter Tuesday to fill in for injured pitchers Carl Pavano and Mike Mussina, the Yankees bypassed Hughes -- their consensus No. 1 pitching prospect -- and awarded the spot start to fellow rookie Chase Wright.

If Hughes was disappointed by the decision, he didn't show it as he didn't allow a baserunner to get in scoring position and retired 15 batters in a row before Russ Adams' sixth-inning single. It was the first time Hughes had fanned 10 batters since a June 23 game against Connecticut.

Andrew Beattie ripped a two-run single in the fourth inning, and Alberto Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Chris Basak scored on a wild pitch in the ninth for the Yankees (7-4).

Mike Vento and Kevin Barker each had two hits for Syracuse (4-7).

Chiefs starter Dustin McGowan (0-2) yielded three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and five strikeouts in five frames.

Source: MILB

A-Rod's tear continues in win

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez's blistering April has progressed to the point where even his teammates aren't sure what to make of it.

Rodriguez slugged his Major League-leading ninth home run Wednesday, helping cushion Kei Igawa to his first Major League victory as the Yankees pulled off a 9-2 drubbing of the Cleveland Indians.

For his part, Rodriguez has remained cool, perhaps not wishing to interrupt a terrific run that has taken him to the periphery of the record books.

"I'm just feeling good," Rodriguez said. "Even when I get myself out, I know exactly what I did. I can't wait to get up there and fix it."

Rodriguez said he hasn't smiled this much since the birth of his daughter, Natasha, who was born in Nov. 2004. That's a pretty good stretch of time, and now that Rodriguez is simultaneously grinning and hitting, his teammates seem to be enjoying the run just as much.

"These are the times you dream about as a player," Jason Giambi said. "He's getting no cheapies. It's great to see, and I'm glad he's started out like this. For him, it's got to be exciting."

While Rodriguez maintains there is no secret behind his hot streak, the third baseman has hit safely in all 13 of New York's games this season and leads the Majors with 23 RBIs. He is just five homers shy of equaling the big-league record for the month of April, set last season by Albert Pujols.

"I don't know how you do it," said Derek Jeter, who had three of the Yankees' 14 hits Wednesday. "He's as hot as I've seen a player. Everything he hits is a home run. When he makes outs, he hits it hard. All he has to do is make contact, and it seems like it's going out."

Rodriguez and Giambi provided the long ball portion of the Yankees' attack, going back-to-back against relievers Tom Mastny and Aaron Fultz, respectively, in a three-run sixth inning.

After a slow start, Giambi has now reached base in nine of his last 13 plate appearances, a stretch that includes two home runs and a double.

The improved performance may be part weather -- Giambi said the trip to more favorable atmospheres in Minnesota and Oakland helped him -- but credit may also be due to a small tweak Giambi has made, leveling out his swing.

"I'm just making a few adjustments, working on things," Giambi said. "I started out and got a few hits, then went cold a little bit. It's starting to come together at a good time, especially as hot as Alex is, to give him some pitches in front of me."

The heart of the Yankees' damage against Cleveland pitching occurred in the third, as New York sent 10 men to the plate in an inning -- doing so for the second consecutive evening.

This time, the brunt of the barrage came against Indians starter Jeremy Sowers, who faced nine batters in the third inning and was lifted after just 2 2/3 frames, charged with six runs and nine hits. Five Yankees had run-scoring hits in the frame.

The outbursts provided more than enough support for Igawa, who recorded his first Major League victory and took home the lineup card as a congratulatory gift from manager Joe Torre.

Top to bottom, the Yankees' order serves as a reminder of what backed him to a 'W' on Wednesday, but it also is a comforting thought for Igawa's future contests.

"I have the best lineup in the world," Igawa said through an interpreter. "I'm very happy to have that."

Making his third start and coming off a solid 5 1/3-inning effort his last time out at Oakland, Igawa allowed two runs in the third inning, surrendering run-scoring hits to Jason Michaels and Travis Hafner.

But Igawa -- who came into this season as a great unknown and has seen his role take on added importance with injuries to veterans Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano -- made good use of his changeup and curve, to keep the Indians off balance.

"Right now, he's got it together, as far as I'm concerned," Torre said.

Igawa kept the Tribe off the board in five other frames before Scott Proctor and Sean Henn followed with scoreless innings. Chris Britton polished off Cleveland with a blank ninth.

Pitching coach Ron Guidry said that he noticed Igawa threw fewer pitches in his bullpen session on Wednesday, cutting off his pregame workout after apparently finding the proper feel on his changeup.

Guidry said that he would remind Igawa of that fact when he prepares for his next outing, but Guidry believes that Igawa's biggest obstacle will be continue to be learning American League hitters and adjusting on the fly.

Igawa said he was unfamiliar with the Indians lineup until he saw them in action against rookie Chase Wright on Tuesday, and it would figure that his added and continued exposure could only help him gain comfort in his new surroundings.

"He might develop into the guy that we think he's going to be," Guidry said. "But that's going to take some time."

Good news for Yankees fans: Igawa, who has already drawn attention for a devoted work ethic, only seemed mildly satisfied with the effort, in which he scattered five hits, walked one and struck out five, but also threw a wild pitch and hit a batter.

"This is considered my minimum," Igawa said. "There is still room for improvement."

Source: Yankees

Igawa looked great last night, I was really impressed with him. He's (hopefully) turning into a stable backend of our rotation, and come up with a strikeout in a big situation.

---

So, which Yankee is going up against Dice-K on Sunday?

Mmmhm. Chase Wright. Sure, there is no one else who fit in with the rotation schedule, but can you imagine Every Sox Player Nationwide going ape shit if this kid was able to get a no-decision or even a win against the immortal Dice-K? I would buy a Chase Wright jersey straight away. Also, the Red Sox lineup (arguably) isn't as dangerous right now as the Indians one has been that we are facing, so that seems to be a good sign for Wright. Plus, he seems to have a nice pitch to get lefty's out - that hot change.

---

A-Rod strikes again. Whoop. Who let the dogs out. Who. Who. Who.

---

Giambi is no longer Cecil Fielder. Congrats. Hopefully he finally has got his power stroke back that he had during Spring Training. This weather has been shitty (poor Indians have had the worst effects, with games snowed out), but I think he may have turned the corner. With Matsui coming back, the 4-5-6-7 hitters should be amazingly strong, with A-Rod, Giambi, Matsui, and Cano/Posada really packing a punch.

---

By that same token, that backend of the Yankee lineup has looked decent on paper, but up until now, has fizzled and been mediocre at best. Melky Cabrera seems to have absolutely no clue what to do with the bat. Eye-Chart had a nice home run the other day, but he was still 1 for 20-something before that. Josh Phelps has been more consistent, with a couple of nice hits last night.

I like Igawa's attitude. This is my minimum.

I hope that Chase Wright does well. Man, oh man, why don't they just soak him in BBQ sauce, tie a pork chop around his neck, and toss him into a pit of wild dogs?? He was quoted as saying he's never even BEEN to Fenway. Well, he's going to be there in a big way in a few days!!

PANDEMONIUM IN THE BRONX!!!!

A-ROD WALK-OFF GAME WINNING HOMER!!!!!

WOOT!!

If A-Rod had Jeter's start and vice-versa, they'd have publicly flogged him out by the monuments by now.

A-Rod does it AGAIN! GULP! Good for him!! I thought the game was over because I checked the box score and it was 5-2 in the 8th (Vizcaino gave up the 4 runs). This is A-Rod's year guys (and they both occured in Da Bronx)

Notes: Pettitte ready for Fenway fanfare

NEW YORK -- With the Yankees' first trip this season to Fenway Park looming, rookie left-hander Chase Wright pulled Andy Pettitte aside on Thursday morning, picking the veteran's brain about an assortment of Boston-related topics.

The role of trusted veteran voice has been a constant and accepted one this year for Pettitte, who has fit right back in with the Yankees after three campaigns in the National League. He will receive his official reintroduction to the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry in a start on Friday.

Though Pettitte was always considered to be an intense competitor on the field and generous with his time off of it, Yankees manager Joe Torre said that he has noticed a change in Pettitte's second New York go-round.

"The fact that he has taken on this role of 'mentor,' so to speak, it's a little different for him," Torre said.

"He looks around and sees where he can help someone. He doesn't do it in an arrogant way. He does it in becoming a friend or a counselor, or whatever that person happens to need. Andy's very aware of the clubhouse and the atmosphere."

Pettitte said he has enjoyed pitching at Fenway Park, where he is 5-2 with a 2.98 ERA in 10 regular-season games (nine starts).

He tried to impart that knowledge on Wright, and planned to do so again with Saturday's scheduled starter, rookie Jeff Karstens, opining that the most important piece of competing in the craziness of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is to simply block it out.

"It's all about trying to control yourself," Pettitte said. "It's going to be a different environment, and if you get all wrapped up in who's at the plate or whatever, you can get distracted and that causes more problems.

"The best advice I can give them is to be oblivious to what's going on. No matter what happens, you've just got to continue to try and make quality pitches. That's all you can do. If you look at it from that standpoint and remember we've got a pretty doggone good team behind us, you don't have a lot to worry about."

Asked if he had a favorite memory from his contests at Fenway, Pettitte first pointed to a 1996 matchup against Roger Clemens -- the second-to-last game of the season, and Clemens' final performance in a Boston uniform -- before chuckling and recalling the incident between Don Zimmer and Pedro Martinez in the 2003 ALCS.

"It's always fun," Pettitte said. "I'm looking forward to getting back there and getting involved in it again."

Though Pettitte faced the Red Sox twice in that 2003 postseason, winning ALCS Game 2 and taking a no-decision in Game 6, both of his performances were at Yankee Stadium.

His last start in Boston was back on Sept. 5, 2003, when Pettitte suffered a loss and didn't make it out of the third inning. He said he is looking forward to facing a Red Sox lineup that has changed quite a bit since Aaron Boone delivered the final crushing blow to end that thriller series.

The names may have changed, but the passion and vigor of the hometown fans probably haven't. Pettitte said he had no idea if that was true, but said, "I guess I'll find out."

When you're hot, you're hot: Torre said he could relate a small amount to Alex Rodriguez's recent run of success, in which some of his teammates have marveled that every swing seems to produce a home run.

That may be exaggerating the case, but Rodriguez dug down and cranked a two-run homer Wednesday on a Tom Mastny offering that was low and out of the strike zone.

Thinking back to his 1971 season for St. Louis, when Torre batted .363, the manager said he could appreciate the feelings Rodriguez must be having right now.

"You go to sleep at night, and you know who you're facing the next day," Torre said. "You know what pitch you're going to hit off this guy. That's the way I went to sleep."

Rodriguez entered play Thursday leading the Major Leagues with nine home runs and 23 RBIs. Torre said he believes Rodriguez is having more fun and is more comfortable, thoughts that have been echoed by the third baseman.

"He's put in his time here," Torre said. "He's taken criticism, he's gotten a lot of attention, and he got a little worn down last year. Hopefully his energy will stay where it is."

Waiting for delivery: Torre is mildly surprised that Melky Cabrera hasn't responded offensively to his extended playing time, assuming the role of regular left fielder while Hideki Matsui mends a strained left hamstring.

Matsui is working out at the Yankees' Spring Training facilities in Tampa, Fla., and is on target to rejoin the club Monday at Tropicana Field. It will be an easy decision for Torre to reinsert Matsui to the starting lineup and relegate Cabrera to a reserve role.

Cabrera went 1-for-4 in the Yankees' victory Wednesday but carried just a .180 average into play Thursday, and part of the reason has been an inclination to become too pull-happy.

"I think if we can keep him in the middle of the field, he'll have success," Torre said.

Source: Yankees

My Jeter can do no wrong, PB! Don't you know that by now?

Good for ARod. And all those fans who were booing him last year (OK, the last few years), didn't they realize how much harm they were doing to him AND the team?? Maybe getting the whole "Jeter and I aren't friends any more" thing off his chest, which seemed so ludicrous at the time, really helped? Who knows? Who cares? Let him just keep coming through in the clutch!

Makes you appreciate Farnsworth, eh?

Great job A-Rod. Can't wait to see if we can get a leg up on Boston and improve our standings in the AL East.

Just wanna save this

Yanks down 2-6 going into bottom of 9th...

New York - Bottom of 9th	Score
	CLE	NYY
Blibbleblabble's Borowski relieved R Betancourt.	6	2
R Cano flied out to center.	6	2
M Cabrera grounded out to shortstop.	6	2
J Phelps homered to left.	6	3
J Posada singled to center.	6	3
J Posada to second on fielder's indifference.	6	3
J Damon walked.	6	3
JG's Jeter singled to left, J Posada scored, J Damon to second.	6	4
B Abreu singled to left, J Damon scored, D Jeter to second.	6	5
D Jeter to third, B Abreu to second on wild pitch by J Borowski.	6	5
JG's A Rodriguez homered to center, D Jeter and B Abreu scored.	6	8
6 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors

All that with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th

Phelps too shows why its a good thing Eye-Chart isn't the only one who can play 1B...

No it doesn't. It makes me afraid of the pen actually. But seriously, I've heard Vizcaino had been reliable prior to today's game so let's just hope it was one bump in the road and he can learn and move on from here (unlike Farnsworth).

A-Rod makes AL history with tear

NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter cautions that Yankees fans shouldn't get too used to seeing Alex Rodriguez homer on a daily basis, but then again, even the guys in pinstripes are starting to become a bit spoiled.

The Yankees have played 14 games this season and Rodriguez has homered in nine of them, leaving observers to wonder this after the odd games when A-Rod doesn't homer: What happened?

"Everyone should enjoy it, because I don't know if we'll see it happen again," Jeter said.

With his game-winning, three-run home run off Cleveland's Joe Borowski on Thursday, Rodriguez boarded the Yankees' charter flight to Boston as the first player in American League history to homer 10 times in his club's first 14 games.

The historic barrage has left Rodriguez leading the Major Leagues in home runs and RBIs (26), while having hit in all of the Yankees' first 14 games in 2007 -- plus three more at the end of 2006 for a 17-game streak.

His shot to sink Cleveland was the All-Star's second game-winning blast of the young season, having also cracked a walk-off grand slam off Baltimore's Chris Ray on April 7 in New York.

"I'm just trying to keep it simple," Rodriguez said. "I've been telling you [reporters] for seven or eight weeks, since down in Tampa, I'm feeling pretty good."

Rodriguez's home runs have come off lefties and righties, starters and relievers, to all fields, early in games and late, in close situations and in blowouts.

One season after Rodriguez stressed over criticism that he couldn't come up in certain situations, he's pretty much handled all of them early in 2007.

"I'm just trying to enjoy the moment," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez started his whirlwind campaign with an eighth-inning home run off Tampa Bay's Juan Salas on Opening Day, providing extra cushion for New York's April 2 victory.

In his only multihomer game of the season to date, Rodriguez reached Orioles pitching twice on April 7, tagging Steve Trachsel in the first inning for a two-run shot and then capping his afternoon with the memorable grand slam off Ray in the ninth.

A-Rod's very next at-bat brought another home run and a curtain call, as he reached Orioles lefty Erik Bedard for a two-run shot in the first inning on April 8.

Rodriguez homered three times in the Yankees' sweep of the Tribe, reaching Jake Westbrook on Tuesday, Tom Mastny on Wednesday and finally Borowski on Thursday.

Rodriguez maintains that he feels at peace and has since early in Spring Training, which helps him keep his mind clear as he continues to be arguably the most dangerous hitter in the Majors.

His mechanics are firmer, as well, as Rodriguez worked with hitting coach Kevin Long extensively over the winter. The duo eradicated a leg kick and helped the leaner, more muscular A-Rod shorten his swing and simply meet the ball.

So far, the combination has proven lethal.

"It's what Alex is capable of," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "You talk about the sky is the limit -- he's just got incredible ability. He's basically letting it speak for itself."

Source: Yankees

Yankees' newest video: 'A-Rod Gone Wild!'

Nah. Can't be. Alex Rodriguez hit another home run? Wait-not just another dinger, but another walk-off, drama-king homer that traveled almost as far as the quickie charter flight the New York Yankees took to Boston immediately after Thursday afternoon's come-from-behind victory.

This time A-Rod sent a nothing pitch from a one-time Maidenform bra factory worker into the far reaches of Yankee Stadium. One moment the pitch was leaving the right hand of Cleveland Indians closer Joe Borowski, who took the mound in the bottom of the ninth with a 6-2 lead. The next moment the ball was clearing the center-field wall, the Yankees were celebrating another improbable victory, and Rodriguez was taking a dugout curtain call after his mind-boggling 10th home run in just 14 games.

As the Yankees prepare for the first of six series meetings with the division-leading Red Sox, there is absolutely no disagreement as to why New York is 8-6 rather than the other way around, or worse. They are being carried on the previously fragile shoulders of Rodriguez, who is shoving Barry Bonds, Dice-K, the Philadelphia Phillies Phree-fall-and anyone else to temporary baseball irrelevancy.

A-Rod leads the big leagues in homers, RBIs, and Standing Ovations. His 10 dingers are only four shy of the April record set by Albert Pujols a season ago. With just 10 games remaining in April, I'd say he has no chance at the 20-home run month set by Sammy Sosa in June of 1998, but apparently this is the new and ungodly improved Rodriguez.

Of course, the only reason he made it to the plate in the bottom of the ninth Thursday was because Borowski ralphed on himself. The likeable, blue-collar reliever retired the first two Yankees hitters and then gave up a so-what homer to Josh Phelps. But then came a single by Jorge Posada, a Johnny Damon walk, a Derek Jeter single, a Bobby Abreu single, and then the 3-run A-Rod rocket launch.

I'm sure with first base open, Indians manager Eric Wedge had his reasons for pitching to the planet's hottest hitter. The book says take your chances on the righty-righty matchup between Borowski and A-Rod, rather than walk him and face lefty Jason Giambi, who had homered three innings earlier. But Rodriguez is rewriting every page of every scouting report these days.

As Rodriguez rounded third base he tossed his batting helmet and then prepared for another stomp on home plate. The first player to stake a spot in the celebration was none other than Yankees captain Jeter, whose relationship with A-Rod has been a tiny bit strained at times. But Jeter is about Ws, championship rings and victory parades. And right now, nobody on the Yankees is doing more to make that a reality than Rodriguez.

Think about it: the Yankees are down three starting pitchers-Carl Pavano, Chien-Ming Wang and Mike Mussina. But yet, the Yankees are only a game behind the Red Sox. They arrive at Fenway Park on a three-game win streak.

Red Sox followers can and will hate the Yankees, but they can't dismiss Rodriguez's numbers. A-Rod is slowly dispelling the assorted criticisms that have stuck to him like a wad of gum. For instance:

You can get inside A-Rod's head.

Not right now, you can't. The guy is locked in. At Thursday afternoon's end, he had more home runs this season than Bonds, Pujols and Ryan Howard combined. He's playing like the kid in his athletic wear commercial. Poor Borowski, who had already thrown 29 pitches by the time A-Rod arrived in the batter's box, didn't know what to do with him. So he threw and hoped. Didn't work. And did you notice A-Rod didn't go into a funk after going hitless his first four at-bats and then committing a ninth-inning throwing error that resulted in an Indians' run.

Who cares if he's Mr. April? We want to see Mr. October.

Look, without A-Rod's April, there might not be a Yankees October. Every win counts, including the ones during the first month of the season. Rodriguez has already hit two walk-off homers. Is that any good?

Plus, you get the feeling that A-Rod isn't sweating the small stuff as much. He's heard the rip jobs about his postseason nightmares. But he can't do anything about October until, well, October. For now, he does the Roy Hobbs thing in April.

Rodriguez isn't going to keep this up. If he does, he'll finish with 116 homers and 301 RBIs. I guarantee you, Hank Aaron will fly cross-country to see that.

Whatever happens, A-Rod has become the most compelling story of an infant baseball season. Now he gets to deal with the Red Sox and the always delightful Boston fans, who will welcome Rodriguez and the Yankees with open jeers.

Something tells me A-Rod won't mind them at all.

Source: ESPN

Mr. April

NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez kind of chuckled, and declared the best thing about his game-winning homer Thursday was trying to hit Yankees coach Larry Bowa in the head as he rounded third.

Yes, Rodriguez is one happy superstar right now, and the Yankees are winning because of it.

Rodriguez hit a three-run homer that capped a comeback from a four-run deficit with two outs in the ninth inning, giving the New York Yankees an 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians that completed a three-game sweep.

By homering for the third straight game, Rodriguez increased his major league-leading totals to 10 homers and 26 RBIs. His latest drive came after he went hitless in his first four at-bats and committed a throwing error that allowed the Indians' final run to score.

"It's just fun," Rodriguez said. "It's going out and not trying to do too much, and help the team win."

A-Rod connected on a belt-high pitch from Joe Borowski (0-1) and sent the ball soaring to center. Rodriguez knew immediately it was gone, flipping his bat toward the Yankees' dugout and raising both hands in triumph.

He slapped the hands of Bowa after rounding third, then slammed his helmet to the ground.

"It's what Alex is capable of," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "He's got such incredible ability and now he's letting it speak for itself."

Sean Henn (1-0) pitched one inning, following Chase Wright and Kei Igawa to become the third Yankees rookie in three games to get his first major league win. That hadn't happened since Norm Branch, Charlie Stanceu and Steve Peek did it from May 20-22, 1941, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The Yankees (8-6), two games over .500 for the first time this season, headed to Boston for their first trip to Fenway Park since they won five straight there in one series in August. Andy Pettitte opposes Boston right-hander Curt Schilling in the opener of the weekend series Friday night.

"We needed this win going to Boston," Rodriguez said. "Every game in Boston is a war."

Rodriguez matched Albert Pujols (last year) and Luis Gonzalez (2001) for the second-fastest to 10 homers behind Mike Schmidt (12 games in 1976), according to Elias. A-Rod is the first player with two game-ending homers this early in the season since Philadelphia's Pat Burrell had two in the first nine games in 2002.

"You enjoy it. You appreciate it. I can't relate to it," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "You'll never see me do it. It's fun to watch. Like I said, it hasn't been done. No one's ever done it so everyone should enjoy it because I don't know if you'll see it happen again."

With the Yankees trailing 6-2, Borowski relieved to start the ninth and retired the first two batters. Three times, he came within one strike of sealing a win, but couldn't get the job done.

"They hit everything," Borowski said. "They got locked in."

Josh Phelps started the comeback with his first homer since May 27, 2005, for Tampa Bay against Seattle.

Jorge Posada singled on a 2-2 pitch, Johnny Damon walked with a full count, and Jeter slapped an RBI single to left. Bobby Abreu, down 1-2 in the count, poked an opposite-field run-scoring single to left for his fourth hit.

That brought up A-Rod, who hit a game-ending grand slam against Baltimore with two outs in the ninth for a 10-7 victory on April 7. Borowski started him with a wild pitch in the dirt, and Rodriguez deposited his next offering into the Yankees bullpen, extending his hitting streak to 19 games dating to last season.

Borowski said the Indians decided not to walk Rodriguez with first base open after the wild pitch because Jason Giambi was in the on-deck circle. Giambi had homered for the second consecutive game earlier.

"The at-bat got a little more confusing with the wild pitch," Rodriguez said. "We really didn't know what was going to happen but I was in the moment, just wanted to hit a ball hard somewhere."

Victor Martinez hit a three-run homer, and David Dellucci homered and drove in two runs for the Indians, who were swept in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium for the first time since July 2002. Travis Hafner had three hits and went 8-for-12 in the series.

"It's a tough loss, obviously," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "You get two outs and the four-run lead and they keep stringing hits together. They are swinging good right now."

Rodriguez's hit cost Fausto Carmona what would have been his first victory since he beat Detroit in his major league debut on April 15, 2006. Carmona allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.

Source: SI

Well, Vizcaino has been great until yesterday.

But Farnsworth pitched well too.

I was reading some comments on the news stories on Every Sox Player Nationwide. I love how the BoSox fans are like, "A-Rod should learn how to celebrate, he acts like he never hit a homerun before, blah blah blah."

I had been critical of the Tigers last year after they had a big overtime win against the Yankees with a huge celebration, but I think this is a bit different. A-Rod has been so anti-clutch that now when he comes through, it really is a big deal. Plus, unlike the Tigers, this was in Yankee Stadium, so the reaction is a bit heightened. Oh well.

BTW - Not only did A-Rod pass Manny on the HR list, Manny has taken this long just to hit his first homerun this season, against the Blue Jays, yesterday.

BTW - Yankees #2 or #3 pitching prospect (and the one thought most Major League ready by scouts) Humberto Sanchez, acquired in the Gary Sheffield deal, is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his pitching arm.

From Mike and the Mad Dog - Darrell Rasner has been optioned down to AAA Scranton, and the Yankees have called up Colter Bean.

Ugh.

http://freecolterbean.com/default.aspx

It's alright, Sheffield hasn't panned out that well either as a DH. Currently he's hitting .132 with 1 HR and 5 RBI. However, these numbers will skyrocket before the season ends.